Paperboard processing machine



Feb. 13, 1968' w. GRQBMAN I PAPERBOARD PROCESSING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed Oct. 23, 1965 mvewron v WILL/AM a/waMAA/ ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 13, 1968 w. GROBMAN PAPERBOARD PROCESSING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet :2

Filed Oct. 23, 1965 //V vs r01? W/LL/AM a/weMA/v ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,368,461 PAPERBOARD PROCESSING MACHINE WilliamGrobman, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor, by mesne assignments, to TheLangston Company, Camden, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Oct.23, 1965, Ser. No. 503,566 Claims. (CI. 9336) This invention relates toa paperboard processing machine. More particularly, the presentinvention is directed to a printer-slotter, folder-gl'uer and squaringmachine all structurally interrelated in a novel manner whereby thefolder-gluer or squaring machine may be operated independently of theprinter-slotter machine.

The present invention is an improvement over the apparatus described incopending application Ser. No. 316,495 filed on Oct. 14, 1963, andentitled Glued Flap Box Folding Machine. As disclosed therein, a singledrive means is provided for the three machines. The printerslotterprints desired information on the paperboard blanks and provides slotsand score-lines on the blanks. The folder-gluer applies glue to a glueflap and folds the blank into the form of a collapsed'box. The squaringmachine assures that the side edges are square before the glue hasdried.

As described in the above-identified application, the three machines areconnected to a single drive motor so that the various sections operatein timed sequence at the same rate of speed. In accordance with thepresent invention, auxiliary motor means are provided for operating onlythe squaring machine or operating the squaring machine and thefolder-gluer machine. In addition, each of the machines are connected tothe main motor in the same manner as described in the above application.When the main motor is shut off, the auxiliary motors may be selectivelyactuated to operate one or both of the machines other than theprinter-slotter.

The purpose of the present invention is to eliminate problems caused byjam-ups. The main jam-ups are associated with the feeding of blanks tothe printer-slotter or the delivery of blanks from the folder-gluer tothe squaring machine. If a jam-up of blanks occurs at the feedingsection of the printer-slotter, there will be a large number of blanksin process throughout the folder-gluer and squaring machine. Theadhesive on these blanks will harden within ten or twelve seconds.Accordingly, any jam-up which requires more than six or eight seconds tocorrect will result in the blanks in process in the foldergluer andsquaring machine being Wasted. This wastage is eliminated by the presentinvention wherein auxiliary motors are provided for selectivelycontinuing the operation of the folder-gluer machine and/or the squaringmachine.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel structuralinterrelationship between a printer-slotter machine, a folder-gluermachine, and a squaring machine so that one or both of the latter twomachines may continue to operate while the printer-slotter machine isinoperative.

It is another object of the present invention to provide apparatus forprinting, slotting, folding, gluing and squaring paperboard blanks in amanner so as to eliminate wastage caused by a jam-up of the blanks atany stage.

It is another object of the present invention to provide motor means forenabling a squaring machine to continue to operate when there is ajam-up of blanks between the squaring machine and a folder-gluermachine.

It is another object of the present invention to provide auxiliary motormeans to enable a folder-gluer machine and a squaring machine tocontinue processing "ice blanks when there is a jam-up of blanks whichhave not yet been fed to the folder-gluer.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in thedrawings forms which are presently preferred; it being understood,however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangementsand instrumentalities shown.

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation view of a printer-slotter machine, afolder-gluer machine, and a squaring machine all operativelyinterconnected.

FIGURE 2 is a partial perspective view of the mechanisms fortransferring rotary motive power from the motor through theprinter-slotter machine, folder-gluer machine, and squaring machine.

FIGURE 3 is a portion of a wiring diagram.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals indicate likeelements, there is shown in FIGURE 1 a side elevation view of paperboardprocessing machine 10.

The machine 10 is comprised of three general or major sections, namelythe printer-slotter machine designated generally as 12, the folder-gluermachine designated generally as 14, and the squaring machine designatedgenerally as -16. The general nature and function of each of thesemachines are known to those skilled in the art.

The 'printer-slotter machine 12 includes a feeding section 18, printingsections 29 and 22, and a slitting and scoring section 24. The adjacentend of the folder-gluer 14 includes a multistage rescoring and gluingsection 26. In the printer-slotter section 12, paperboard blanks areprinted, scored, and slotted with a glue flap along one edge thereof.

In recent years, it has been found that difiiculties withunsatisfactorily erected paperboard boxes can be, to a certain extent,eliminated by providing the rescoring and gluing section 26. In section26, the score lines are rescored especially along score lines adapted topermit folds. Glue is also applied to the glue flap as the blank passesthrough section 26. If the joint is to be attained by tape instead ofglue, the tape may be applied to the blank in section 26.

A main motor 28 may be operatively coupled to the feed rollers, printerrollers, scoring rollers, etc. of the printer-slotter 12. By a suitablepower transfer means, the main powe shaft 36 of the folder-gluer 14 isoperatively coupled to the main motor 28. For purposes of illustration,the transfer means is illustrated in FIGURE 2, as including a gear 30coupled to motor 28 and in meshing engagement with a gear 32 on theouter housing of a clutch 34 connected to one end of the power shaft 36.The other end of shaft 36 is connected to an auxiliary clutch 38 havingits outer housing integral with a sprocket 40. Sprocket 40 is coupled toa sprocket 42 on the output of an auxiliary motor 46 by means of a chain44. Hereinafter, motor 46 may be referred to as a first auxiliary motor.Motor 46 is adapted to rotate the power shaft in the same direction asshaft 36 is rotated by motor 28.

The clutches 34 and 38 may be identical. Each of these clutches are theover-run type wherein power is coupled to the shaft 36 to rotate thesame only through the gear 32 or the sprocket 40. Sprocket 40 does notrotate when gear 32 is rotatably driving shaft 36 and vice versa.

The rotary power from either motor 28 or 46 is transmitted from shaft 36to shaft 48 by way of meshing bevel gears 50 and 52. Suitable means areknown to those skilled in the art for maintaining the meshing engagementof gears 50 and 52 as the width of the folder-gluer machine 14 isadjusted to accommodate different sizes of paperboard. Shaft 48 isutilized to transmit the rotary power to the end of the folder-gluermachine 14 opposite from power shaft 36 to facilitate driving the upperand lower traction belts which cause the paperboard blanks to movethrough the machine 14. As the blanks move through the machine 14, theyare folded into the form of collapsed boxes with juxtaposed side edgesglued together or taped together.

In order to utilize the rotary motion of shaft 48, there is provided atransverse shaft 54 connected to shaft 48 by way of meshing beveledgears 56 and 58. Sprockets 62 and 64 are provided at opposite endportions of shaft 54. Sprocket 62 is coupled to a sprocket 66 on one endportion of a belt drive shaft by way of a chain 70. The sprocket 64 iscoupled to a sprocket 68 on the opposite end portion of shaft 60 by wayof chain 72. Belt drive pulleys 74 and 76 are coupled to shaft 60 andare adjustable therealong to accommodate different widths of paperboard.The upper traction belts 78 extend around the pulleys 74 and 76.

The rotary motion of shaft 60 is coupled to a shaft 80 of a gear box byway of a chain 86 extending around sprocket 82 on shaft 60 and sprocket84 on shaft 80. Through suitable gearing including gear 88 on shaft 80meshed with gear 90 on the lower belt drive shaft 92, the lower tractionbelts 98 are driven in timed relationship with the upper traction belt78. The belts 98 extend around pulleys 94 and 96 on shaft 92 and areadjustable therealong.

The rotary motion of shaft 80 is coupled to the squaring machine througha clutch 100. The output of clutch 100 includes a gear 102 meshed withgear 104 and shaft '106. Shaft 106 includes a sprocket 108 in meshingengagement with a chain 114. Chain 114 also is in meshing engagementwith sprocket on the squaring machine drive shaft 112. An eccentric 116on shaft 112 engages a follower 118. Follower 118 is coupled to amovable squaring plate 120 of the squaring machine 16. Plate 120oscillates toward and away from fixed squaring plate while oscillatingabout a rocker shaft 121.

The end of shaft 112 remote from sprocket 110 is connected through a 90gear box 122 to the driven roller 124 which extends into an endless belt126 of a conveyor 128. Folded boxes, either glued or taped, dischargedfrom between the upper and lower traction belts 78 and 98, respectively,are received on the conveyor 128 between the plates 120 and 130. Theplate 120 oscillates toward and away from the plate 130 to assure thatthe side edges of the folded box are square while a blast of air isdischarged downwardly from the air hold-down means 132. The blast of airis directed downwardly onto the upper surfaces of the folded box blanksto prevent the glued or taped joint from springing open until theadhesive has at least partially set. Thereafter, the conveyor 128conveys folded boxes to a stacker, counter and ejector, or the 1'6.

A second auxiliary motor 134 is provided for driving the squaringmachine 16 when the motors 28 and 46 are inoperative. The output ofmotor 134 is coupled by way of chain 136 to a sprocket 138. Sprocket 138is on shaft 106 and will drive shaft 112 by way of sprockets 108 and 110and chain 114. When motor 134 is operating, gears 102 and 104 willrotate but clutch 100 will prevent shaft 80 from rotating. That is,rotation of shaft 80 can be transmitted to gear 102 by way of clutch 100but not vice versa.

As shown diagrammatically in FIGURE 3, the main motor 28 is coupledacross conductors 146 and 148 in series with the poles on one side of adouble throw switch 140. The poles on the other side of the switch 140are in series with a timer 142. The timer 142 is in series with a switch144 adapted to connect the timer 142 to either motor 46 or motor 134. Itwill be noted that motors 4-6 and 134 cannot be operated simultaneouslyand that neither of these motors can be operative when motor 28 isoperating.

Assuming that the machine 10 is operating properly without any jam-up ofblanks, the blanks are fed by mechanisms known to those skilled in theart to the printer-slotter machine 12 wherein the blanks are printed andslotted. The blanks may be rescorcd and glued or have tape applied alongone edge in section 26 of the folder-gluer 14. While passing throughmachine 14, the blanks are folded and then delivered to the squaringmachine 16 wherein they are squared and transmitted to some other devicefor stacking or counting. The machines 12, 14 and 16 are operativelydriven by motor 28.

If a jam-up occurs at the feeding mechanism for feeding blanks to thefeed rolls of section 18, switch 140 is operated to render motor 28inoperative. Operation of machines 12, 14 and 16 immediately terminates.After a time delay of about two seconds, either motor 46 or 134 willstart depending upon the position of switch 144. Switch 144 has aneutral position not shown. As soon as the operator opens switch 140, hewill also manipulate switch 144 so as to complete a circuit throughmotor 146. In this manner, the blanks being processed by machine 14 andbeing squared by machine 16 will continue to be processed before theadhesive has sufficient time to dry. Hence, the blanks in processingmachines 14 and 16 will not constitute rejects.

With motor 46 operating, rotary motion is being transmitted to the powershaft 36 and through shaft 48 to drive the traction belt as well as thesquaring machine 16 as described above. At this time, motors 28 and 134as well as the printer-slotter machine 12 are inoperative. As soon asthe processing of the blanks in machines 14 and 16 has been completed,switch 144 may be manipulated to its neutral position, thereby renderingall of the machines inoperative.

Assuming that the machine 10 is operating properly and then a jam-upoccurs between machines 14 and 16, the operator will open switch 140 andthereby render motor 28 inoperative. The operator will then manipulateswitch 144 so as to complete a circuit through motor 134. After a shorttime delay of about two seconds, motor 134 will be operative and willcontinue to operate the squaring machine 16 as well as the conveyor 128to continue processing blanks thereon. Since motors 28 and 46 areinoperative at this time, the operators may relieve the jam-up withoutany danger clue to rotating of the parts. Hence, it will be seen that atleast one of the machines 14 and 16 may continue to operate when themain motor is rendered inoperative.

Hereinafter, gear 30, gear 32, clutch 34 and main power shaft 36 may bereferred to as a first power transfer means for transferring power fromthe main motor 28 to the folder-gluer machine 14. Also, shafts 48, 54,60, 80, 106 and 112 may be referred to as a second power transfer meansfor transferring power from the foldergluer machine 14 to the squaringmachine 16.

If the flap on the blanks is to be glued, the specific device forapplying glue thereto forms no part of the invention. If a glue wheel isused, it will be caused to move away from the blank when motor 28 isinoperative. If a glue gun is used, the gun will move away from theblank. Such movement is required in order not to flood the blankjuxtaposed to the glue wheel or gun and may be accomplished after ashort time delay subsequent to rendering motor 28 inoperative.

While switch 144 is indicated above as being a manual switch it shouldbe obvious that this switching process can be automatic and thatvariations can be made in the circuitry of FIGURE 3. It is within thescope of the present invention to initiate operation of motor 134 bymeans of a jam switch located adjacent the squaring machine 16. Such ajam switch would be actuated by the blanks when a jam occurs between thefolder-gluer machine 14 and the squaring machine 16. Also, a similar jamswitch may be provided at the feeding section 18 to actuate motor 46when a jam of blanks occurs thereat. A delay timer would be provided inseries with each such jam switch.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms Withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and,accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, ratherthan to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of theinvention.

It is claimed:'

1. Paperboard processing apparatus comprising a printer-slotter machine,a folder-gluer machine, and a squaring machineall operativelyinterconnected in that sequence to process paperboard blanks to convertthe blanks into printed, slotted and collapsed boxes, a single motoroperatively coupled to drive each of said machines, and auxiliary motormeans for operating at least one of said folder-gluer and squaringmachines when said motor is inoperative.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said ,motor is connectedto the printer-s'lotter machine, first power means for transferringpower from the printerslotter machine to the folder-gluer machine,second power transfer means for transferring power from the fo1dergluermachine to the squaring machine, and said auxiliary motor means beingcoupled to at least one of said power transfer means.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said first powertransfer means includes a shaft, said auxiliary motor means including anauxiliary motor connected to said shaft through a clutch, meansconnecting said shaft to upper and lower belt drives of saidfolder-gluer machine, and said second power transfer means being coupledto said shaft.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said auxiliary motormeans includes an auxiliary motor selectively coupled to a rocker shaftof said squaring machine.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said auxiliary motormeans includes an auxiliary motor coupled to a main drive shaft of saidsquaring machine and a conveyor associated therewith, and circuitry toenable only one of said motors to be operative at any given time.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS BERNARD STICKNEY, PrimaryExaminer.

1. PAPERBOARD PROCESSING APPARATUS COMPRISING A PRINTER-SLOTTER MACHINE,A FOLDER-GLUER MACHINE, AND A SQUARING MACHINE ALL OPERATIVELYINTERCONNECTED IN THAT SEQUENCE TO PROCESS PAPERBOARD BLANKS TO CONVERTTHE BLANKS INTO PRINTED, SLOTTED AND COLLAPSED BOXES A SINGLE MOTOROPERATIVELY COUPLED TO DRIVE EACH OF SAID MACHINES, AND AUXILIARY MOTORMEANS FOR OPERATING AT LEAST ONE OF SAID FOLDER-GLUER AND SQUARINGMACHINES WHEN SAID MOTOR IS INOPERATIVE.